forced circumcision is barbaric

and it should be illegal to circumcise children.

any thoughts?

 

eh...I feel that there are bigger issues. I dont even really think its an issue. You are talking Male Jewish circumcision, am I correct?

 

I remember this from just a few days ago.
No, I don't think it should be illegal. Do we really need more restrictions?

 

judaism has nothing to do with it.

i'm talking about mutilating babies genitals, which is performed on the vast majority of american baby boys.

there is no health benefit to it, and its flat out cruel.

some religions require their members (heh heh) be circumcized. thats ok, i suppose, but there is no need to do it to infants who have no control.

if a person feels they must be circumcized to be a good jew or a good muslim or whatever, they may have it done voluntarily as an adult.

i dont think there needs to be "more bans" on things, but in my eyes slicing up a baby's genitals with a scalpel should be covered under laws against other forms of child abuse.

 

i really just don't care

i was circumcised. and you know, it doesn't bother me any

 

Benefits of circumcision

1 Many older men, who have bladder or prostate gland problems, also develop difficulties with their foreskins due to their surgeon's handling, cleaning, and using instruments. Some of these patients will need circumcising.

2 Some older men develop cancer of the penis - about 1 in 1000 - fairly rare, but tragic if you or your son are in that small statistic. Infant circumcision gives almost 100% protection, and young adult circumcision also gives a large degree of protection.

3 Cancer of the cervix in women is due to the Human Papilloma Virus. It thrives under and on the foreskin from where it can be transmitted during intercourse. An article in the British Medical Journal in April 2002 suggested that at least 20% of cancer of the cervix would be avoided if all men were circumcised.

4. circumcised men are 8 times less likely to contract the HIV virus.

 

These children aren't being abused.
Having a procedure performed at the wishes of their loving parents, by skilled professionals... it is not abuse. Whether you like the concept or not.

 

agreed. i had my boy circumcised. its not barbaric. or abuse.

 

some old men have issues with the foreskin. so you cut up a baby? thats stupid. if its an issue, address the issue at the proper time. this is like saying we should cut off kid's earlobes because sometime later in life they may have an infected piercing.

circumcision is no replacement for proper hygeine. the issue isn't our natural form. the issue is proper care for one's body.

bullshit. the vast majority of men in the industrialized world are uncut. the united states is an exception. i find it hard to believe AIDS is 8 times more common in europe than here. source, please? or is it just another of the many myths americans use to delude themselves into thinking its justifiable to cut up infants' genitals?

 

Damn! Now I don't feel so bad being circumcised

 

Must you be so crass?

 

its not crass so much as an accurate description of the "procedure"

let me ask you this:

do any babies giggle when they have their foreskin sliced off? or do they scream?

its painful and unnecessary mutilation of the genitals, plain and simple.

it experienced a great surge in popularity in victorian days as a means of desensitizing the glans by means of constant exposure. the idea was to prevent masturbation. it doesnt prevent masturbation, but it DOES cause a good deal of desensitization.

 

these are medical facts i researched.

 

Do you have your foreskin?
And no, it is crass-- lacking sensitivity, refinement, or intelligence.

 

I wouldnt circumcise a baby, but I also wouldnt ever follow any sort of religion, so. Ive never met someone who has been bothered that they were circumcised as a child. It doesnt really affect anything... Its not so much mutilation, as it is cultural. Piercings could be deemed cultural or mutilation, it just depends on how you view it subjectively.... I believe it is only mutilation if the procedure would affect the body's mechanics or otherwise. Honestly, what I am bothered by, is women's circumcision in developing countries. This is not because I am sexist, but because a clit is different than foreskin. But we all see things differently and fight our own battles.

 

saying so is not the same as providing credible sources.

 

nope. cut off

this would be a good description of someone who slices bits off of the genitals of babies.

 

THAT is more of a barbaric circumcision issue that would be discussed.
There is a very high risk of infection, with documented reports of ulcers, scar tissue and cysts. Female genital cutting may also interfere with a woman's pregnancy or labor. Other lasting effects that commonly result from FGC procedures include urine retention, resulting in repeated urinary infections and obstruction in menstrual flow, which may lead to frequent reproductive tract infections, infertility and chronic pelvic pain.

Since 1998, 16 states have instituted criminal sanctions against the practice of FGC

A federal law criminalizing the practice was passed in 1996 and became effective in April 1997. The law provides that the practice of FGC on a person(s) under the age of 18 is a federal crime, unless the procedure is necessary to protect the health of a young person or for medical purposes connected with labor or birth. The penalty for violating this law is a fine or imprisonment for up to five years, or both. This law specifically exempts cultural beliefs or practices as a defense for conducting FGC.

 

I'm interested in the source of this as well, could you post the link?

 

Circumcision

Whether you're expecting a baby boy or have just welcomed your new little guy into the world, you have an important decision to make before you take your son home: whether to circumcise him.
For some families, the choice is simple because it's based on cultural or religious beliefs. But for others, the right option isn't as clear. Before you make a circumcision decision, it's important to talk to your doctor and consider some of the issues.
About Circumcision

Boys are born with a hood of skin, called the foreskin, covering the head (also called the glans) of the penis. In circumcision, the foreskin is surgically removed, exposing the end of the penis.

Approximately 55% to 65% of all newborn boys are circumcised in the United States each year, though this rate varies by region (western states have the lowest rates and the north central region has the highest). The procedure is much more widespread in the United States, Canada, and the Middle East than in Asia, South America, Central America, and most of Europe, where it's uncommon.
Parents who choose circumcision often do so based on religious beliefs, concerns about hygiene, or cultural or social reasons, such as the wish to have their son look like other men in the family.
Routine circumcision is usually performed during the first 10 days (often within the first 48 hours), either in the hospital or, for some religious ritual circumcisions, at home. If you decide to have your son circumcised at the hospital, your pediatrician, family doctor, or obstetrician will perform the procedure before you bring your baby home. The doctor should prepare you by telling you about the procedure he or she will use and the possible risks. Circumcision after the newborn period can be a more complicated procedure and usually requires general anesthesia.
In some instances, doctors may decide to delay the procedure or forgo it altogether. Premature babies or those who have special medical concerns may not be circumcised until they're ready to leave the hospital. And babies born with physical abnormalities of the penis that need to be corrected surgically often aren't circumcised at all because the foreskin may eventually be used as part of a reconstructive operation.
The Pros and Cons

On the plus side, circumcised infants are less likely to develop urinary tract infections (UTIs), especially in the first year of life. UTIs are about 10 times more common in uncircumcised compared with circumcised infants. However, even with this increased risk of UTI, only 1% or less of uncircumcised males will be affected.
Circumcised men may also be at lower risk for penile cancer, although the disease is rare in both circumcised and uncircumcised males. Some studies indicate that the procedure might offer an additional line of defense against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV.
Penile problems, such as irritation, inflammation, and infection, are more common in uncircumcised males. It's easier to keep a circumcised penis clean, although uncircumcised boys can learn how to clean beneath the foreskin once the foreskin becomes retractable (usually some time before age 5).
Some people claim that circumcision either lessens or heightens the sensitivity of the tip of the penis, decreasing or increasing sexual pleasure later in life. But neither of these subjective findings has been proved.
Although circumcision appears to have some medical benefits, it also carries potential risks — as does any surgical procedure. These risks are small, but you should be aware of both the possible advantages and the problems before you make your decision. Complications of newborn circumcision are uncommon, occurring in between 0.2% to 3% of cases. Of these, the most frequent are minor bleeding and local infection, both of which can be easily treated by your doctor.
Perhaps one of the hardest parts of the decision to circumcise is accepting that the procedure can be painful. In the past, it wasn't commonplace to provide pain relief for babies being circumcised, but because studies have indicated that it benefits the infant to receive anesthesia, most doctors will now provide it.
Also, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends the use of pain relief measures for circumcision. Even up until recently, though, anesthesia hasn't been universally used, so it's important to ask your doctor ahead of time what, if any, pain relief will be utilized with your son.

Two primary forms of local anesthetic are used to make the operation less painful for a baby:

1. a topical cream (a cream put on the penis) that requires at least 20 to 40 minutes to take its full effect
2. an injectable anesthetic that requires less time to take effect and may provide a slightly longer period of anesthesia

In addition to anesthesia, giving a pacifier dipped in sugar water can help reduce your baby's level of stress.
Caring for a Circumcised Penis

Following circumcision, it is important to keep the area as clean as possible. Gently clean with soap and warm water — do not use diaper wipes. Your doctors may recommend putting a dab of petroleum jelly on the baby's penis or on the front of the diaper for 3 to 5 days to alleviate any potential discomfort caused by friction against the diaper. If your son has a bandage on his incision, you might need to apply a new one whenever you change his diaper for a day or 2 after the procedure (put petroleum jelly on the bandage so it won't stick to his skin).
It usually takes between 7 to 10 days for a penis to heal. Initially the tip may appear slightly swollen and red and you may notice a small amount of blood on the diaper. You may also notice a slight yellow discharge or crust after a couple of day. Although this is normal, certain other problems are not.

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of the following:

• persistent bleeding or blood on diaper (more than quarter-sized)
• increasing redness
• fever
• other signs of infection, such as worsening swelling or discharge, or the presence of pus-filled blisters
• not urinating normally within 12 hours after the circumcision

However, with quick intervention, almost all circumcision-related problems are easily treated.
Caring for an Uncircumcised Penis

As with a penis that's circumcised, an uncircumcised one should be kept clean. Also, no cotton swabs, astringents, or any special bath products are needed — simple soap and warm water every time you bathe your baby will suffice.
Initially, do not pull back the foreskin to clean beneath it. Over time, the foreskin will retract on its own so that it can be pulled away easily from the glans toward the abdomen. This happens at different times for different boys, but most can retract their foreskins by the time they're 5 years old.
As your son grows up, teach him to wash beneath the foreskin by gently pulling it back from the glans, rinsing the glans and the inside of the foreskin with soap and warm water, then pulling the foreskin back over the head of the penis.
The Circumcision Decision

In addition to the medical issues discussed, religious and cultural beliefs often figure into the equation. Of course, if these are important to you, they deserve to be seriously considered.
Despite the possible benefits and risks, circumcision is neither essential nor detrimental to a boy's health. The AAP and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) do not endorse the procedure as a way to prevent any of the medical conditions mentioned previously. The AAP also does not find sufficient evidence to medically recommend circumcision or argue against it.
Talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of circumcision to help you make the choice that's right for your son.
Reviewed by: Mary L. Gavin, MD
Date reviewed: July 2008